Eunice council approves $93,912 budget adjustment for URENCO waterline repairs

The Eunice City Council on Feb. 2 approved a $93,912.31 budget adjustment to cover emergency repairs to URENCO’s main water line, authorizing payments to three contractors to complete work the city said it could not do in‑house.

City Manager Shannon Cummins told the council a purchase order was in place but vendor paperwork and proof of insurance were required before work could proceed. The budget adjustment authorized $6,325 for SHS Truck Services, $39,409.18 for BenMark and $48,178.13 for J & H, Inc., and passed on a unanimous roll call (seven yes votes).

Public Works Director Gonzalo Luna showed council members two pieces of pipe removed from a Highway 18 leak and described corrosion at a fire hydrant. "The corroded piece came from the fire hydrant," Luna said, underscoring the need for replacement parts and outside contractors because his department lacks sufficient personnel and equipment to complete the repair quickly.

Councilors pressed Luna and the manager on whether local oilfield contractors could assist and whether freezing temperatures had delayed earlier efforts; Luna said staffing shortages and lack of heavy equipment prevented an in‑house fix and that a contractor's bid came in at roughly half the cost of other bids. Manager Cummins said the city initially paused exposing the line during freezing weather but considered the repair an emergency once vendor and insurance requirements were met.

The resolution (No. 3523) was read by the manager and carried with a roll call recorded in the minutes. The council also approved a related budget adjustment later in the meeting to properly account for the expenditures in the fiscal year 2026 budget.

Council members asked staff to continue documenting vendor insurance and procurement paperwork and to pursue stronger local contractor coordination for future emergencies.